Archived MySpace blog
OK, so I've been tagged, and should be writing another blog... but I wanted to tell this little story first. So... tough; my blog, you read what I type. OK, no, I will get back to being tagged later. But, for now, let me tell you about last night.
So, Molly and I are coming home from Brian's Birthday party. Kudos to Brian and moreover Jack, for putting together such an amazing party. But, as happens, the night wore on, and it was time for us to make the trek back from Norwalk to Branford.
We decide to drive up Rte. 1 for a while, instead of getting straight on the highway, in hopes of finding Dunkin Donuts on our way... and, about a mile up, in the sleepy town of Westport, we do.
Two coffees now on board, back onto Rt. 1. About a quarter mile up, on the right, in a gas station that seems to have been closed for hours, I spy one of Westport's Finest. No worries. Just going a half mile to the highway entrance, it's late, doing nothing wrong.
"That's odd." "What's that?" "The lights on the top of his car... he doesn't seem to have any." "Oh I've seen that. Some of..." "I think they're on the sides." "Makes sense. Whalen is making... oh, he's following us." "Why?" "No reason, I'm sure. Just gotta earn his donut."
Turn right toward the highway, 5-0 still following. I've known he's there for the last 1/2 mile or so, no way I've stepped over 40. Lights: red and blues. Pull over. Grab my license, and reg and insurance card from the glove box. Window down. See the usual swagger up, and the mag-lite.
"Mornin' Officer." "Morning. You got a taillight out. Just have to harass you for it." 'Harass.' Yes he said 'Harass'. "Oh." Kinda sighed, kinda laughed. Wow they really have nothing to do in Westport at 1 in the morning. "I'll get that fixed tomorrow." "Been drinking tonight?" Molly gives a no; I tell him "had a beer and hour or so." "Got any warrants?" "Nah... I work for the State's Attorney's office; couldn't let that happen." "OK, I just gotta run these [license and reg], and you're all set."
"He pulled me over for a taillight. Wow, these have nothing to do out here. Told you... just gotta earn his..."
"OK, you're all set. This is a written warning; just gotta prove to my boss that I did something tonight" "OK, is this the kind I have to bring to DMV?" "No, I didn't check off 'defective equipment'. I just need something to give to my Sergeant. Just throw it away. You can just toss it out the window when I turn around." Ummm... so you can pull me over again for littering?" "Nah... I'm turning right around as soon as I'm back in my car." "OK. Have a good night." "Hey," Molly interjects, "did you see this?" The mag-lite shines back in the car. "This", as she reaches for my air freshener. It's a picture of this Officer Friendly looking cop, with the words 'Police Are My Favorite People' "That's great. Where'd you get that?" "Some little shop in Newport. Horribly... it's donut scented." "That's great. I have to get one."
In the town of Westport, busted taillights are considered especially heinous. At 1 in the morning, these cases are handles by the men and women of the Special Taillight Unit. These are their stories.
01 October 2006
24 September 2006
Speak the Word...
REVOLUTION
...The Word is All of Us.
Archive from MySpace blog
Category: Music
So here it is, the first big show of the Fall... OK, last of the Summer if you want to get technical, yesterday was actually the first day of Fall. But this one... well this one's been planned for so long... I heard about it at the end of a show at the Webster last year, and knew I was going.
And so it was, that Jim and I were taking a trip to New York. I love New York -- yeah, I know that sounds trite -- I just can't think of another city with that much energy. And I think you bring that energy with you when you go to New York to do something, especially to a show. And so, this is how we find ourselves on the 4:52 out of New Haven.
I left work a bit early, just so I could catch the right train. Changed clothes in the parking garage; what a sight that must have been if anyone was looking. Run to track 14; Jim had already bought my train ticket for me. The train ride was uneventful -- crowded, but average -- highlighted in the first 3 stops by Jim trying in vain to see if his brother had caught the same train in Milford.
Somewhere down the line, Fairfield County, "You're gonna have to get on or off the train." "You have to clear the doors; ON or OFF." The on-board loudspeaker, to some teenager in Greens Farms; he and his friends couldn't figure out which car they were getting on. Our, it seemed, was the answer, and 3 girls and a guy, armed with large bags, proceeded to walk up and down the aisle of the train, bumping into as many people as possible on the way. "Sorry." "Oops, sorry." Where is... who's the Mayor of Green's Farms, anyway?
On to New York. Jim's brother Joe caught a later train. He'll meet us at the theater. Smoke break at Grand Central, then back underground, we're on an S train, Times Square bound. It's a small, tightly packed subway train, one stop. OK, so it's only a 5 block walk... but when in Rome, ya know?
Times Square is truly and amazing place. I've been there a few times, and to New York many more... but Time Square always impresses me: A giant Mecca to industry and popular culture. At 2 in the morning, it still looks like broad daylight. So there we are, looking up -- everything is up in Times Square -- asking "where is the Nokia Theatre?" I suggested in jest that if the Cingular building is beside us, the Verizon building to our right, LG straight ahead, Nokia must be up and to the left. Who'd have thought I'd be correct? Times Square may indeed be laid out by market share.
No Joe yet, and no phone to call Ang, Dre, or Pete, so... break for dinner. When the plan is to meet 5 or 6 people in New York when we're all taking different transportation, it's unfortunately a bad time for your phone to run out of juice. But, food in our bellies, we returned to the Nokia, undaunted.
Fantastic venue. At least that's my opinion. I think it's shared by those I've spoken to. Small, intimate, very few bad views... and excellently set-up hall. Even at the security end, the venue is well designed, and very efficient. Once you're pasted the front doors, you don't need your tickets, you don't interact with the security. They're there, but very unobtrusive. A variety of bars along the way to the main hall keep the crowds down. All in all, one of the best venues I've ever been to.
But at 8:05 the lights dropped. Joe's not yet to be found, nor have I spied anyone else. It no longer matters. From this point on it's about Geoff Tate, Mike Stone, Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, and Scott Rockenfield. Last year we saw Operation: Mindcrime live. At the end of the show we saw a trailer for the very long-waited sequel. Now it was here. Not only was Mindcrime II finally a reality, but it was in fact presented in the best way possible, both shows, full rock opera format, back to back with only a show intermission. In short: Queensrÿche, Operation: Mindcrime I & II. And it was awesome.
Remember Now, Anarchy-X, Revolution Calling; the audience singing along. The stage show getting harder to see over the assembled crowd. Operation: Mindcrime, Speak; by now the room is packed, ever giant word flashed on the screen echoing through the crowd. Spreading The Disease, The Mission, Suite Sister Mary.
"Don't ever trust..." By The Needle Lies the crowd is in a fervor. Everyone is completely into the show. There is the guy next to us -- awesome guy -- he must be 70, in an AC/DC t-shirt, with his sweet, grandmotherly wife, headbanging and completely rocking out. I want to be that guy when I'm his age... I really do.
Electric Requiem, Breaking the Silence, I Don't believe in Love; at this point we take our exit. No we didn't leave for good... quite the opposite. But we've seen Mindcrime before. We listen to Waiting For 22, My Empty Room, and Eyes Of A Stranger from outside the main hall so we can grab a smoke. We're heading back to the hall right as everyone's leaving, right in time to spot Joe, and perfectly to snipe 3 prime seats, just left of center, in the front row of the seated tier. Still no sight of the rest, but Jim, Joe and I are in perfect position to see every moment of what we came there to see: Operation: Mindcrime II.
Freiheit Overture began, and the energy was incredible. Convict began, and Geoff Tate comes out on stage in an orange jumpsuit.I'm American; throwing funny money into the audience. One Foot in Hell, Hostage, Hands, Speed of Light; everything with the clarity you can't just get by listening to the album. Signs Say Go, Re-Arrange You, Chase; Ronnie James Dio up on the screen, while his canned -- yet wonderfully produced -- vocals meshed perfectly with the live instrumentation. The opera itself was less intense; less characters and lacking the style of Tate singing and interacting with Nikki, but still captivating, still strong. Murderer?, Circles, If I Could Change It All, An Intentional Confrontation, Junkie's Blues; a strong finish.
The house music came up, but the lights did not. There's still a treat in store. Jim asked another fan -- one he'd gathered had been to last night's show as well -- and discovered that indeed there was an encore. Three songs, including Jet City Woman, and... thankfully... no Silently Lucidity. The audience got into the encore possibly even more strongly than the show itself. Not out of dislike for the performance, but during the Mindcrimes you had to watch and listen, during the encore... just sing along... just Speak the Word.
Currently listening :
Operation: Mindcrime
By Queensrÿche
Release date: 06 May, 2003
...The Word is All of Us.
Archive from MySpace blog
Category: Music
So here it is, the first big show of the Fall... OK, last of the Summer if you want to get technical, yesterday was actually the first day of Fall. But this one... well this one's been planned for so long... I heard about it at the end of a show at the Webster last year, and knew I was going.
And so it was, that Jim and I were taking a trip to New York. I love New York -- yeah, I know that sounds trite -- I just can't think of another city with that much energy. And I think you bring that energy with you when you go to New York to do something, especially to a show. And so, this is how we find ourselves on the 4:52 out of New Haven.
I left work a bit early, just so I could catch the right train. Changed clothes in the parking garage; what a sight that must have been if anyone was looking. Run to track 14; Jim had already bought my train ticket for me. The train ride was uneventful -- crowded, but average -- highlighted in the first 3 stops by Jim trying in vain to see if his brother had caught the same train in Milford.
Somewhere down the line, Fairfield County, "You're gonna have to get on or off the train." "You have to clear the doors; ON or OFF." The on-board loudspeaker, to some teenager in Greens Farms; he and his friends couldn't figure out which car they were getting on. Our, it seemed, was the answer, and 3 girls and a guy, armed with large bags, proceeded to walk up and down the aisle of the train, bumping into as many people as possible on the way. "Sorry." "Oops, sorry." Where is... who's the Mayor of Green's Farms, anyway?
On to New York. Jim's brother Joe caught a later train. He'll meet us at the theater. Smoke break at Grand Central, then back underground, we're on an S train, Times Square bound. It's a small, tightly packed subway train, one stop. OK, so it's only a 5 block walk... but when in Rome, ya know?
Times Square is truly and amazing place. I've been there a few times, and to New York many more... but Time Square always impresses me: A giant Mecca to industry and popular culture. At 2 in the morning, it still looks like broad daylight. So there we are, looking up -- everything is up in Times Square -- asking "where is the Nokia Theatre?" I suggested in jest that if the Cingular building is beside us, the Verizon building to our right, LG straight ahead, Nokia must be up and to the left. Who'd have thought I'd be correct? Times Square may indeed be laid out by market share.
No Joe yet, and no phone to call Ang, Dre, or Pete, so... break for dinner. When the plan is to meet 5 or 6 people in New York when we're all taking different transportation, it's unfortunately a bad time for your phone to run out of juice. But, food in our bellies, we returned to the Nokia, undaunted.
Fantastic venue. At least that's my opinion. I think it's shared by those I've spoken to. Small, intimate, very few bad views... and excellently set-up hall. Even at the security end, the venue is well designed, and very efficient. Once you're pasted the front doors, you don't need your tickets, you don't interact with the security. They're there, but very unobtrusive. A variety of bars along the way to the main hall keep the crowds down. All in all, one of the best venues I've ever been to.
But at 8:05 the lights dropped. Joe's not yet to be found, nor have I spied anyone else. It no longer matters. From this point on it's about Geoff Tate, Mike Stone, Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, and Scott Rockenfield. Last year we saw Operation: Mindcrime live. At the end of the show we saw a trailer for the very long-waited sequel. Now it was here. Not only was Mindcrime II finally a reality, but it was in fact presented in the best way possible, both shows, full rock opera format, back to back with only a show intermission. In short: Queensrÿche, Operation: Mindcrime I & II. And it was awesome.
Remember Now, Anarchy-X, Revolution Calling; the audience singing along. The stage show getting harder to see over the assembled crowd. Operation: Mindcrime, Speak; by now the room is packed, ever giant word flashed on the screen echoing through the crowd. Spreading The Disease, The Mission, Suite Sister Mary.
"Don't ever trust..." By The Needle Lies the crowd is in a fervor. Everyone is completely into the show. There is the guy next to us -- awesome guy -- he must be 70, in an AC/DC t-shirt, with his sweet, grandmotherly wife, headbanging and completely rocking out. I want to be that guy when I'm his age... I really do.
Electric Requiem, Breaking the Silence, I Don't believe in Love; at this point we take our exit. No we didn't leave for good... quite the opposite. But we've seen Mindcrime before. We listen to Waiting For 22, My Empty Room, and Eyes Of A Stranger from outside the main hall so we can grab a smoke. We're heading back to the hall right as everyone's leaving, right in time to spot Joe, and perfectly to snipe 3 prime seats, just left of center, in the front row of the seated tier. Still no sight of the rest, but Jim, Joe and I are in perfect position to see every moment of what we came there to see: Operation: Mindcrime II.
Freiheit Overture began, and the energy was incredible. Convict began, and Geoff Tate comes out on stage in an orange jumpsuit.I'm American; throwing funny money into the audience. One Foot in Hell, Hostage, Hands, Speed of Light; everything with the clarity you can't just get by listening to the album. Signs Say Go, Re-Arrange You, Chase; Ronnie James Dio up on the screen, while his canned -- yet wonderfully produced -- vocals meshed perfectly with the live instrumentation. The opera itself was less intense; less characters and lacking the style of Tate singing and interacting with Nikki, but still captivating, still strong. Murderer?, Circles, If I Could Change It All, An Intentional Confrontation, Junkie's Blues; a strong finish.
The house music came up, but the lights did not. There's still a treat in store. Jim asked another fan -- one he'd gathered had been to last night's show as well -- and discovered that indeed there was an encore. Three songs, including Jet City Woman, and... thankfully... no Silently Lucidity. The audience got into the encore possibly even more strongly than the show itself. Not out of dislike for the performance, but during the Mindcrimes you had to watch and listen, during the encore... just sing along... just Speak the Word.
Currently listening :
Operation: Mindcrime
By Queensrÿche
Release date: 06 May, 2003
19 September 2006
In Bloom
Archived MySpace blog
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
I may complain about it, but my job does have its unique perks. One of which is that nothing goes on in this city without the cops knowing, and everything they know gets passed on to me.
So this month's interesting new haven news is that filmmaker Vadim Perelman has decided to film his latest work on the streets of the fair Elm City. Based on the prop ambulance, the upper Chapel Street area around Yale is actually supposed to represent the Big Apple for this film, but nonetheless, principal photography is occurring a couple blocks from my office.
So today we get the word, that they're filming a principal scene out in front of the Union League Café. So off we go. It's lunch time, why not watch the making of a film. Why not see if we can meet Uma Thurman.
So, it's 1:05, and we're walking up to the corner of Chapel and Temple, and bullshitting with a couple cops, when a trailer door opens, and out walks the statuesque Uma Thurman -- much prettier than I'd formerly believed when viewed in person, and she proceeds to walk by the 25 or so of us on the corner, pause and say hello, and stroll up to the set on the next block.
Not close enough, or enough time for autographs, but close enough for a very nice, very friendly, brush with stardom.
So 25 feet up the road, dollied steadi-cam, 1000 candlepower floods, a big lighting reflector on a crane, a tent full of directors of photography, light and sound guys, Ms. Thurman's stunt double (all dressed), and somewhere Vadim Perelman -- if I knew what he looked like I might have seen him.
The assembled group of cranky production assistants are trying to keep the 100 or so people congregated out of the way of filming, while my boss, looking like over-dress paparazzi, is snapping pictures with his telephoto lens. All this while a 6 second shot commences 5 times in a row: Diana (Thurman) walks diagonally across Chapel, turns, and looks into the camera with horror. The next scene will be Uma's double being run over by a car, but lunch wasn't long enough to stay for them to set up that shoot.
Sorry, I hope I didn't spoil the movie with that tidbit of info there, but by 2007 when In Bloom opens, you'll likely have forgotten this little blog.
Hopefully in a couple days, I can update with some of the pictures my boss took. The previews looked really good.
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
I may complain about it, but my job does have its unique perks. One of which is that nothing goes on in this city without the cops knowing, and everything they know gets passed on to me.
So this month's interesting new haven news is that filmmaker Vadim Perelman has decided to film his latest work on the streets of the fair Elm City. Based on the prop ambulance, the upper Chapel Street area around Yale is actually supposed to represent the Big Apple for this film, but nonetheless, principal photography is occurring a couple blocks from my office.
So today we get the word, that they're filming a principal scene out in front of the Union League Café. So off we go. It's lunch time, why not watch the making of a film. Why not see if we can meet Uma Thurman.
So, it's 1:05, and we're walking up to the corner of Chapel and Temple, and bullshitting with a couple cops, when a trailer door opens, and out walks the statuesque Uma Thurman -- much prettier than I'd formerly believed when viewed in person, and she proceeds to walk by the 25 or so of us on the corner, pause and say hello, and stroll up to the set on the next block.
Not close enough, or enough time for autographs, but close enough for a very nice, very friendly, brush with stardom.
So 25 feet up the road, dollied steadi-cam, 1000 candlepower floods, a big lighting reflector on a crane, a tent full of directors of photography, light and sound guys, Ms. Thurman's stunt double (all dressed), and somewhere Vadim Perelman -- if I knew what he looked like I might have seen him.
The assembled group of cranky production assistants are trying to keep the 100 or so people congregated out of the way of filming, while my boss, looking like over-dress paparazzi, is snapping pictures with his telephoto lens. All this while a 6 second shot commences 5 times in a row: Diana (Thurman) walks diagonally across Chapel, turns, and looks into the camera with horror. The next scene will be Uma's double being run over by a car, but lunch wasn't long enough to stay for them to set up that shoot.
Sorry, I hope I didn't spoil the movie with that tidbit of info there, but by 2007 when In Bloom opens, you'll likely have forgotten this little blog.
Hopefully in a couple days, I can update with some of the pictures my boss took. The previews looked really good.
11 September 2006
5 Years Later and Where are We Now?
Archived MySpace Blog
Current mood: pondering
Category: pondering Blogging
So, yeah, this is a September 11th blog. 5 years ago today... we all know what happened... or do we? I'm not going to debate that. A lot of opinions to be had. I'm not endorsing any opinions here, just making some observations.
So, 5 years later...
Osama Bin Laden... still somewhere... still out there... maybe. Maybe he died of the renal failure already. Maybe his videotaped messages were recorded 3 years ago. Do we know? Will we ever?
Saddam Husein... captured... deloused... standing trial before a jury of his peers? Who are his peers anyway? Well, there's one less Jerry Garcia look-alike in power in the Middle East. That's a good thing, right?
And that brings us to Iraq... still there. I think we just found a WMD... no that was just a Pepsi can from the last time we were over there. The Right still argues that we need to be there... The Cradle of Civilization is the Cradle of Terror. The Left still argues against... Bush knew there was no connection... where are the WMDs? I don't know... if this war is really about oil, why am I paying 3.07 a gallon?
Positive effect: Sales of American flags at their highest point since World War II.
Negative effect: I haven't seen an American flag flying at the top of its pole in 5 years.
And of flying... oh let's please talk about air travel. I so love flying barefoot and parched. My sandwich was confiscated as I might have used Enriched Uranium peanut butter and explosive jelly. I wanted to wash it down with a Gatorade. Sorry. My luggage is still being sent to the wrong coast, but now when I get of the plane I have to have long fingernails, unmanageable hair, and bad breath. But I feel so much safer after being harassed and having my $200 suitcase destroyed by the highly trained members of the TSA.
TSA, DHS, NSA, ICE. Yes ICE. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Formerly 2 different organizations: INS and Customs. One about Immigrants, legal and otherwise, and one about taxation. Now we've combined the both into one super-agency... all under the control of Homeland Security. Both simultaneously checked and balanced, right?
Homeland Security took over FEMA too. So glad. September 11th proved that all disasters are caused by terrorists, right? And because terrorists caused Hurricane Katrina, the new Homeland Security run FEMA was incredibly prepared to handle the situation. See, the system works.
The Patriot Act works, too. So many terrorists have been caught because they borrowed "Al Quaeda's Guide to Terrorism" from their local libraries.
I'm beginning to feel that my right to Patriotism no longer exists. The original patriots of this nation spoke out against the things that didn't like in the existing government. If I do that, I'm called unpatriotic. Hmmm... My head is getting sore from scratching it. Sometimes I think the Constitution has been tossed out the window. But we did elect Mr. W; he represents the opinions of the majority. Right? I think so. In 2 more years we get to elect another monarch... sorry, President. Anyone but Cheney, 2008. The mantra of the politically disaffected. Voting in the negative. Kerry because he's not Bush, even if he looks like lurch from the Addams Family. I could end up voting for Steve-O from Jackass just because he's not Dick Cheney. I'm sorry, but I don't think the 2 party system adequately represents the political consciousness of my generation. Know what? I'm voting Whig!
5 years later... still not sure if it was a plane or a missile that hit the Pentagon.
5 years later... not sure if the whole event was foretold by the proper folding of a $20 bill.
5 years later... Toby Keith still wants put a boot up my ass.
5 years later... half my friends list is inundating me with video bulletins about how George Bush is a Nazi in league with the Pope and Emperor Palpatine, while the other half is sending me pictures of the Statue of Liberty flipping off terrorists.
5 years later... where are we? Afghanistan? Iraq? Lebanon? Korea? The most powerful nation in the world or the largest terrorist nation in the world? Maybe we're just as the movie put it... Team America: World Police.
I don't know, and I don't think I care anymore. I don't think it matters. If Al Gore is right, we'll all be under water in 10 years anyway.
Current mood: pondering
Category: pondering Blogging
So, yeah, this is a September 11th blog. 5 years ago today... we all know what happened... or do we? I'm not going to debate that. A lot of opinions to be had. I'm not endorsing any opinions here, just making some observations.
So, 5 years later...
Osama Bin Laden... still somewhere... still out there... maybe. Maybe he died of the renal failure already. Maybe his videotaped messages were recorded 3 years ago. Do we know? Will we ever?
Saddam Husein... captured... deloused... standing trial before a jury of his peers? Who are his peers anyway? Well, there's one less Jerry Garcia look-alike in power in the Middle East. That's a good thing, right?
And that brings us to Iraq... still there. I think we just found a WMD... no that was just a Pepsi can from the last time we were over there. The Right still argues that we need to be there... The Cradle of Civilization is the Cradle of Terror. The Left still argues against... Bush knew there was no connection... where are the WMDs? I don't know... if this war is really about oil, why am I paying 3.07 a gallon?
Positive effect: Sales of American flags at their highest point since World War II.
Negative effect: I haven't seen an American flag flying at the top of its pole in 5 years.
And of flying... oh let's please talk about air travel. I so love flying barefoot and parched. My sandwich was confiscated as I might have used Enriched Uranium peanut butter and explosive jelly. I wanted to wash it down with a Gatorade. Sorry. My luggage is still being sent to the wrong coast, but now when I get of the plane I have to have long fingernails, unmanageable hair, and bad breath. But I feel so much safer after being harassed and having my $200 suitcase destroyed by the highly trained members of the TSA.
TSA, DHS, NSA, ICE. Yes ICE. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Formerly 2 different organizations: INS and Customs. One about Immigrants, legal and otherwise, and one about taxation. Now we've combined the both into one super-agency... all under the control of Homeland Security. Both simultaneously checked and balanced, right?
Homeland Security took over FEMA too. So glad. September 11th proved that all disasters are caused by terrorists, right? And because terrorists caused Hurricane Katrina, the new Homeland Security run FEMA was incredibly prepared to handle the situation. See, the system works.
The Patriot Act works, too. So many terrorists have been caught because they borrowed "Al Quaeda's Guide to Terrorism" from their local libraries.
I'm beginning to feel that my right to Patriotism no longer exists. The original patriots of this nation spoke out against the things that didn't like in the existing government. If I do that, I'm called unpatriotic. Hmmm... My head is getting sore from scratching it. Sometimes I think the Constitution has been tossed out the window. But we did elect Mr. W; he represents the opinions of the majority. Right? I think so. In 2 more years we get to elect another monarch... sorry, President. Anyone but Cheney, 2008. The mantra of the politically disaffected. Voting in the negative. Kerry because he's not Bush, even if he looks like lurch from the Addams Family. I could end up voting for Steve-O from Jackass just because he's not Dick Cheney. I'm sorry, but I don't think the 2 party system adequately represents the political consciousness of my generation. Know what? I'm voting Whig!
5 years later... still not sure if it was a plane or a missile that hit the Pentagon.
5 years later... not sure if the whole event was foretold by the proper folding of a $20 bill.
5 years later... Toby Keith still wants put a boot up my ass.
5 years later... half my friends list is inundating me with video bulletins about how George Bush is a Nazi in league with the Pope and Emperor Palpatine, while the other half is sending me pictures of the Statue of Liberty flipping off terrorists.
5 years later... where are we? Afghanistan? Iraq? Lebanon? Korea? The most powerful nation in the world or the largest terrorist nation in the world? Maybe we're just as the movie put it... Team America: World Police.
I don't know, and I don't think I care anymore. I don't think it matters. If Al Gore is right, we'll all be under water in 10 years anyway.
21 August 2006
Things to Do in Connecticut When You're Doing Nothing
Archived MySpace blog
Category: Blogging
By now everyone has read the tales of trips to Montréal, Nine Inch Nails Concerts, Volkswagen Festivals in New Jersey, and the like. Now, I think it's only fair to show the other side. This is...
Down Time
This is the tale of a weekend with no plans. My eye is finally pretty much back to normal. There are a few weekends left in Summer. The weather is fine. And... there are no plans anywhere.
Friday night I enjoyed a couple at Richter's while wishing a co-worker good luck as he moved on to greener pastures in the Stamford office. Actually, anywhere in Connecticut is greener pastures than here when you're talking about the courts. After a short stay at said Happy Hour, back home and the promise of the new Indiana Jones box set -- "You call him 'Dr. Jones', doll"
The rest of Friday night was spent in. Molly and I watched Raiders of the Lost Ark, accompanied by Jersey Mike's subs, and a bit more drink. Would have been quite the relaxing night had Molly's back not completely given out... but Tiger Balm and a hot towel massage soothed things to a sleepable state, and the night proved relaxing after all.
Saturday morning came, and the call of a friend in need pointed our day mid-state. Southington around 3:00 left us the first half of the day open, and presented two wonderful opportunities: Momentum Tuning, and Tim Horton's.
So we drive up to Meriden, to the closest Tim Horton's in the state, and one exit North of Momentum Tuning, to a little area we have since dubbed Little Toronto. Tim' Horton's Donuts on one side of East Main, Toronto Dominion Bank on the other, it's like a little slice of Canada in the middle of Meriden. We sit on the curb, enjoying our coffees, me with a tasty cinnamon roll, and Molly, a donut, I believe.
Leaving Tim's, coffees in hand, and rolling one exit South on the Wilbur Cross, we approach Momentum Tuning, an automotive shop specializing in the performance Volkswagen market. What a wonderful little niche market! However, it would seem that the true location of said shop is guarded in Volkswagen enthusiast secrecy. Up and down North Plains Industrial Rd we drive, looking for this place. A call to 411, and we discover... closed. Shortly after hanging up, we do discover the hidden lair of the gurus of Volkswagen tuning, and confirm that the shop does not have weekend hours. But for a long day on Thursday, and the fact that I only work until 3:30 on Mondays, I had feared I may never see the inside of this most hallowed shrine of Volkswagen Performance. Alas, it is now only 1:30, and We are not to meet Lonnie until 3 or 4.
US 5 through Wallingford is about the same as any main drag through any Northeast town... fast food, car dealerships, and mid-priced retail shopping. We found ourselves in Big Lots. What a great place. Wonders of the world... literally... have you ever seen Indian cuisine packaged for sale in South America? I thought not. An Axe deodorant gift set garnered me my second "Evil Rubber Ducky", and I received a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th phone call from the cretins trying to sell me drugs illegally from some 3rd World country. "Can I ask you what medications you're on?" The calls finally ceased when Molly tells them "Well, I think it's kind of intrusive for you to ask me that. I'm on the AZT and I have herpes." The phone calls ceased, but oddly no one in Big Lots even batted an eye.
A quick phone call to Lonnie revealed that 3 or 4 had now become 5, and so our destination became the Meriden Square Mall, but on the way through, we decided to stop in at the porn store. Yeah, I said it. Problem... the porn store was closed for 5 while the employee took a break. Next door for 2 failed scratch tickets, and... oddly... a porn mag, then back to the porn store. Surprisingly, we did better in the market next door, and we left the store empty handed.
Since Westfield bought all the malls in Connecticut it seems, effectively the Meriden Square Mall is the same as any other mall in this state, only laid out differently. A bathroom break, 2 gumballs, and a pair of jeans for Molly later, it's time to head to Lonnie's. There, we are greeted with the sight of the truck I should have been moving with, a van with a 12' box on the back. Tiny, efficient, appropriate for a small apartment move. (Mine was 53' long.) We emptied it in 30 minutes.
I've missed Arby's living in Branford, and since Southington has one, that is where we had our evening meal. It was uneventful on its own, although the site of Molly and I laughing and joking and having a good time in the food line seemed to upset the locals. The gene pool is little more than a puddle out there it seems.
The drive home brought us by Ocean State Job Lot, and a clothing store called pay/half. Cheap shopping seemed to be the mode of the day. Pay/half was a bust, but at Job Lot, Molly happened upon a 1:16 scale model of the Volkswagen W12 Nardo. No, no one actually knows what that car is... I'll have to blog it later. Saturday ended with a DVD's on the couch... no, I said we didn't buy anything at the porn store... The Poseidon Adventure. Irvin Allen's classic, and the perfect follow-up to the week before's Towering Inferno. Stonebridge was ruled out, and we ended the day in a lazy fashion.
Sunday arrived as it usually does, and the late morning suggested coffee. Off we went to Dunkin' Donuts. Walked in, and got in line, until... Molly realized that it was a planless Sunday, and our relaxing coffee pause was better served at Common Grounds, where not only is the coffee better, but one can sit at a table on the sidewalk, and enjoy a cigarette as well. Before leaving, however, Molly managed to find two aging nerds in Dunkin' Donuts, and through them join the Branford Chess Club.
In order to have a coffee and cigarette, we must first stop for cigarettes. Enter Branford Book & Card. There's a line, so I decided to explore the international news section while waiting. Somehow we end up with 2 packs of Marb Lights, and another porn mag.
Coffees, smokes, a croissant, and a raspberry crumb cake, reading porn in downtown Branford. What does this suggest? Of course. A trip to Old Glory.
Old Glory is a head shop. There are 5 or six of them in the state, and I believe more in other states. No, neither Molly nor I partake in the stickiest of the icky, but Old Glory is great place to pick up t-shirts, wallets, and our personal goal, belt buckles.
A stoned clerk helped us acquire a Metallica "Whiskey in the Jar" tee, a Sex Pistols "God Save the Queen" tee, and a belt buckle, limited edition made in 1979, of a small aircraft gauge pod. It's sweet. If you don't understand what it is from that description, don't feel bad, neither did Eddie.
Yes, Eddie. Recently back from parts unknown... the Midwest... Eddie had invited us to lunch. Archie Moore's. Fairly New Haven famous. Good food, drink; I had a Swithwick's and something called the "Pulled Pig" sandwich. Pork barbecue is always good by me. The promise of karaoke later turns out to be a pass, but that's fine by everyone involved, and the late afternoon rolls off into an evening defined by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
I think that's it. Just a weekend off, nothing much to do, no plans to speak of. Just a little down time.
Category: Blogging
By now everyone has read the tales of trips to Montréal, Nine Inch Nails Concerts, Volkswagen Festivals in New Jersey, and the like. Now, I think it's only fair to show the other side. This is...
Down Time
This is the tale of a weekend with no plans. My eye is finally pretty much back to normal. There are a few weekends left in Summer. The weather is fine. And... there are no plans anywhere.
Friday night I enjoyed a couple at Richter's while wishing a co-worker good luck as he moved on to greener pastures in the Stamford office. Actually, anywhere in Connecticut is greener pastures than here when you're talking about the courts. After a short stay at said Happy Hour, back home and the promise of the new Indiana Jones box set -- "You call him 'Dr. Jones', doll"
The rest of Friday night was spent in. Molly and I watched Raiders of the Lost Ark, accompanied by Jersey Mike's subs, and a bit more drink. Would have been quite the relaxing night had Molly's back not completely given out... but Tiger Balm and a hot towel massage soothed things to a sleepable state, and the night proved relaxing after all.
Saturday morning came, and the call of a friend in need pointed our day mid-state. Southington around 3:00 left us the first half of the day open, and presented two wonderful opportunities: Momentum Tuning, and Tim Horton's.
So we drive up to Meriden, to the closest Tim Horton's in the state, and one exit North of Momentum Tuning, to a little area we have since dubbed Little Toronto. Tim' Horton's Donuts on one side of East Main, Toronto Dominion Bank on the other, it's like a little slice of Canada in the middle of Meriden. We sit on the curb, enjoying our coffees, me with a tasty cinnamon roll, and Molly, a donut, I believe.
Leaving Tim's, coffees in hand, and rolling one exit South on the Wilbur Cross, we approach Momentum Tuning, an automotive shop specializing in the performance Volkswagen market. What a wonderful little niche market! However, it would seem that the true location of said shop is guarded in Volkswagen enthusiast secrecy. Up and down North Plains Industrial Rd we drive, looking for this place. A call to 411, and we discover... closed. Shortly after hanging up, we do discover the hidden lair of the gurus of Volkswagen tuning, and confirm that the shop does not have weekend hours. But for a long day on Thursday, and the fact that I only work until 3:30 on Mondays, I had feared I may never see the inside of this most hallowed shrine of Volkswagen Performance. Alas, it is now only 1:30, and We are not to meet Lonnie until 3 or 4.
US 5 through Wallingford is about the same as any main drag through any Northeast town... fast food, car dealerships, and mid-priced retail shopping. We found ourselves in Big Lots. What a great place. Wonders of the world... literally... have you ever seen Indian cuisine packaged for sale in South America? I thought not. An Axe deodorant gift set garnered me my second "Evil Rubber Ducky", and I received a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th phone call from the cretins trying to sell me drugs illegally from some 3rd World country. "Can I ask you what medications you're on?" The calls finally ceased when Molly tells them "Well, I think it's kind of intrusive for you to ask me that. I'm on the AZT and I have herpes." The phone calls ceased, but oddly no one in Big Lots even batted an eye.
A quick phone call to Lonnie revealed that 3 or 4 had now become 5, and so our destination became the Meriden Square Mall, but on the way through, we decided to stop in at the porn store. Yeah, I said it. Problem... the porn store was closed for 5 while the employee took a break. Next door for 2 failed scratch tickets, and... oddly... a porn mag, then back to the porn store. Surprisingly, we did better in the market next door, and we left the store empty handed.
Since Westfield bought all the malls in Connecticut it seems, effectively the Meriden Square Mall is the same as any other mall in this state, only laid out differently. A bathroom break, 2 gumballs, and a pair of jeans for Molly later, it's time to head to Lonnie's. There, we are greeted with the sight of the truck I should have been moving with, a van with a 12' box on the back. Tiny, efficient, appropriate for a small apartment move. (Mine was 53' long.) We emptied it in 30 minutes.
I've missed Arby's living in Branford, and since Southington has one, that is where we had our evening meal. It was uneventful on its own, although the site of Molly and I laughing and joking and having a good time in the food line seemed to upset the locals. The gene pool is little more than a puddle out there it seems.
The drive home brought us by Ocean State Job Lot, and a clothing store called pay/half. Cheap shopping seemed to be the mode of the day. Pay/half was a bust, but at Job Lot, Molly happened upon a 1:16 scale model of the Volkswagen W12 Nardo. No, no one actually knows what that car is... I'll have to blog it later. Saturday ended with a DVD's on the couch... no, I said we didn't buy anything at the porn store... The Poseidon Adventure. Irvin Allen's classic, and the perfect follow-up to the week before's Towering Inferno. Stonebridge was ruled out, and we ended the day in a lazy fashion.
Sunday arrived as it usually does, and the late morning suggested coffee. Off we went to Dunkin' Donuts. Walked in, and got in line, until... Molly realized that it was a planless Sunday, and our relaxing coffee pause was better served at Common Grounds, where not only is the coffee better, but one can sit at a table on the sidewalk, and enjoy a cigarette as well. Before leaving, however, Molly managed to find two aging nerds in Dunkin' Donuts, and through them join the Branford Chess Club.
In order to have a coffee and cigarette, we must first stop for cigarettes. Enter Branford Book & Card. There's a line, so I decided to explore the international news section while waiting. Somehow we end up with 2 packs of Marb Lights, and another porn mag.
Coffees, smokes, a croissant, and a raspberry crumb cake, reading porn in downtown Branford. What does this suggest? Of course. A trip to Old Glory.
Old Glory is a head shop. There are 5 or six of them in the state, and I believe more in other states. No, neither Molly nor I partake in the stickiest of the icky, but Old Glory is great place to pick up t-shirts, wallets, and our personal goal, belt buckles.
A stoned clerk helped us acquire a Metallica "Whiskey in the Jar" tee, a Sex Pistols "God Save the Queen" tee, and a belt buckle, limited edition made in 1979, of a small aircraft gauge pod. It's sweet. If you don't understand what it is from that description, don't feel bad, neither did Eddie.
Yes, Eddie. Recently back from parts unknown... the Midwest... Eddie had invited us to lunch. Archie Moore's. Fairly New Haven famous. Good food, drink; I had a Swithwick's and something called the "Pulled Pig" sandwich. Pork barbecue is always good by me. The promise of karaoke later turns out to be a pass, but that's fine by everyone involved, and the late afternoon rolls off into an evening defined by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
I think that's it. Just a weekend off, nothing much to do, no plans to speak of. Just a little down time.
19 August 2006
a poem
Archived MySpace blog
Category: Writing and Poetry
three
dollar umbrella
black
sleek
compact
doesn't open
stuck
the button
does
not
work
rap it against the wall
rap it
again
works
sorta
three
dollars; only three
you get
what
you pay for
Category: Writing and Poetry
three
dollar umbrella
black
sleek
compact
doesn't open
stuck
the button
does
not
work
rap it against the wall
rap it
again
works
sorta
three
dollars; only three
you get
what
you pay for
17 August 2006
I don't drink Bud Light, but...
Archived MySpace blog
Current mood: amused
Category: Blogging
they were nice enough to write this radio spot, especially for me.
So, without further ado...
Real Men Of Genius....
Today we salute you, Mr. hair gel over geller
Mr. hair gel over geller
Less ambitious men stop at 2-in-1 shampoo but you put in countless hours, tireless dedication and a 5-gallon drum of industiral adhesive.
Sticky goooooooop!
Like a laquered hedgehog or oily porcupine, what woman wouldn't want to run her fingers through your razor-sharp stalagmites of hair?
Or is it stalagtites?
Wind, water, stray bullets, even repeated hammer blows...
Nothing can muss your immovable mane.
I've got a hair helmet!!
So crack open an ice cold Bud Light oh Master of The Mousse and while you're at it, crack open another buck of goop.
Mr. hair gel over geller
Yeah, that really is all about me. :)
Currently listening :
Original Bud Light Real Men of Genius 3 CD Set!
By Bud Light
Release date: 01 January, 2010
Current mood: amused
Category: Blogging
they were nice enough to write this radio spot, especially for me.
So, without further ado...
Real Men Of Genius....
Today we salute you, Mr. hair gel over geller
Mr. hair gel over geller
Less ambitious men stop at 2-in-1 shampoo but you put in countless hours, tireless dedication and a 5-gallon drum of industiral adhesive.
Sticky goooooooop!
Like a laquered hedgehog or oily porcupine, what woman wouldn't want to run her fingers through your razor-sharp stalagmites of hair?
Or is it stalagtites?
Wind, water, stray bullets, even repeated hammer blows...
Nothing can muss your immovable mane.
I've got a hair helmet!!
So crack open an ice cold Bud Light oh Master of The Mousse and while you're at it, crack open another buck of goop.
Mr. hair gel over geller
Yeah, that really is all about me. :)
Currently listening :
Original Bud Light Real Men of Genius 3 CD Set!
By Bud Light
Release date: 01 January, 2010
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